Isn’t it funny how the best marketing ideas never come to you when you’re trying really hard to think of them? You spend hours staring at your computer screen waiting for inspiration only to have the “aha” moment arrive when you go for a walk, step into the shower, or settle your beach chair into the sand.

When lightning does strike, there never seems to be a pen and paper around. Most people grab their smartphone, open up the notes app or hit the audio recording feature so they don’t lose that stroke of genius. Unfortunately, all too often the creative process stops there — right when they were on the cusp of executing a brilliant campaign.

Instead of viewing your smartphone as a bridge between you and the office, think of it as a content marketing machine.

A lot of small business owners already do. In fact, the June/July 2014 Mobile Pulse Survey from Constant Contact reports that the number of small businesses using mobile technology has jumped from 66 percent in 2013 to 77 percent in 2014.

Yet with so many smartphone features, tools and apps available, it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones you actually need let alone how to use them. To eliminate confusion, here’s how you can create awesome marketing content directly from your smartphone.

Be image conscious…

The obvious places to start are with the smartphone’s photo and video features. To stand out from the sea of selfies and amateurish videos, snap action photos and videos with interesting backdrops.

For example, you can feature customers at events or at your business. Add flair to the shots by including local landmarks or the impressive fountain in the hotel where a big industry conference is being held. Or if you’ve just leased beautiful new office space, capture fun images of employees settling into their new digs.